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Hi Tom,
I have never felt the need to write to a senator regarding a bill before, but now it feels like a necessary duty to do so. As an Alaskan living overseas I have no real idea who "my" legislators are, so I turned to the akleg.gov web page to try to figure out to whom I should address my letter, and found a list of names and addresses for all of the legislators. Your name appears near the top of the list (one of the benefits of appearing early in the alphabet), and, of course, it is a name I remember well from the political philosophy course you co-taught when I was a student at Steller (I am pretty much the same age as Stephanie [one of his younger siblings, with whom I went to school]). Therefore you are the logical person for me to write to; I hope that you can see to it that my words make it to the people who need to hear them.
Over the past few weeks I have heard the news from the US, and watched in horror as more and more information has been forthcoming about the anti-abortion laws in places like Georgia, and I have feared for the consequences of such laws.
Now I have heard that even my own much beloved home-state, Alaska, has had HOUSE BILL NO. 178 presented to the legislature to abolish abortion. My initial reaction to such news sees me longing to renounce my US Citizenship and break forevermore ties with what is fast becoming one of the scariest governments I have ever heard described. Yet I am also aware that doing so would be selfish, that in defence of all of the wonderful people I love who are trapped living in such an embarrassing land I ought to do something to fight against such insane laws.
Not knowing what else to do, I am starting with a letter to you, to share my fears, in hopes that you can help prevent this bill from ever being passed.
We are living in a time of global overpopulation, with all of the very real threats to our ecosystem caused thereby. There are countless people alive who did not receive the early nurturing love and support that a child needs to thrive and grow into a kind and understanding person. The very real hurt and suffering that they were raised with causes them to lash out at the world around them, and spreads the harm ever further.
I have looked at HOUSE BILL NO. 178, and it is clear that, if passed, it would be the same as the government *requiring* that even more unwanted children be brought into the world, with no provisions in place to ensure that they receive a nurturing and supportive environment. Furthermore, this bill would put countless women at risk for their own health and well-being. Even when a child is wanted and eagerly awaited the mother is still at risk, and could even die due to complications with the gestation, labour, and/or delivery. No person, of any gender, should be required to thus risk their life, or the life of someone they care about.
Please do everything in your power to persuade all of your fellow legislators not to pass this bill. I feel that we would be much better served by finding ways to change our culture to ensure that the only children born are those who are wanted and will be nurtured, rather than dooming the next generation to have more abused, unwanted, and unhappy children than welcomed, nurtured, and joyful ones.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words, and for all of the work you do to try to make the world a better and safer place in which to live, and for the work you do to prevent such dangerous bills becoming law.
Sincerely,
--Riia Marie Chmielowski
Graduate of Steller Secondary School
Master of Science from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Currently employed as a Research Engineer at Luleå University of Technology
I have never felt the need to write to a senator regarding a bill before, but now it feels like a necessary duty to do so. As an Alaskan living overseas I have no real idea who "my" legislators are, so I turned to the akleg.gov web page to try to figure out to whom I should address my letter, and found a list of names and addresses for all of the legislators. Your name appears near the top of the list (one of the benefits of appearing early in the alphabet), and, of course, it is a name I remember well from the political philosophy course you co-taught when I was a student at Steller (I am pretty much the same age as Stephanie [one of his younger siblings, with whom I went to school]). Therefore you are the logical person for me to write to; I hope that you can see to it that my words make it to the people who need to hear them.
Over the past few weeks I have heard the news from the US, and watched in horror as more and more information has been forthcoming about the anti-abortion laws in places like Georgia, and I have feared for the consequences of such laws.
Now I have heard that even my own much beloved home-state, Alaska, has had HOUSE BILL NO. 178 presented to the legislature to abolish abortion. My initial reaction to such news sees me longing to renounce my US Citizenship and break forevermore ties with what is fast becoming one of the scariest governments I have ever heard described. Yet I am also aware that doing so would be selfish, that in defence of all of the wonderful people I love who are trapped living in such an embarrassing land I ought to do something to fight against such insane laws.
Not knowing what else to do, I am starting with a letter to you, to share my fears, in hopes that you can help prevent this bill from ever being passed.
We are living in a time of global overpopulation, with all of the very real threats to our ecosystem caused thereby. There are countless people alive who did not receive the early nurturing love and support that a child needs to thrive and grow into a kind and understanding person. The very real hurt and suffering that they were raised with causes them to lash out at the world around them, and spreads the harm ever further.
I have looked at HOUSE BILL NO. 178, and it is clear that, if passed, it would be the same as the government *requiring* that even more unwanted children be brought into the world, with no provisions in place to ensure that they receive a nurturing and supportive environment. Furthermore, this bill would put countless women at risk for their own health and well-being. Even when a child is wanted and eagerly awaited the mother is still at risk, and could even die due to complications with the gestation, labour, and/or delivery. No person, of any gender, should be required to thus risk their life, or the life of someone they care about.
Please do everything in your power to persuade all of your fellow legislators not to pass this bill. I feel that we would be much better served by finding ways to change our culture to ensure that the only children born are those who are wanted and will be nurtured, rather than dooming the next generation to have more abused, unwanted, and unhappy children than welcomed, nurtured, and joyful ones.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words, and for all of the work you do to try to make the world a better and safer place in which to live, and for the work you do to prevent such dangerous bills becoming law.
Sincerely,
--Riia Marie Chmielowski
Graduate of Steller Secondary School
Master of Science from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Currently employed as a Research Engineer at Luleå University of Technology
